Predicting the optimal minimal cuff volume of the laryngeal mask airway from physical examination parameters

Abstract

The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is widely used during anesthesia and emergency situations. It is comprising an airway tube with a large balloon cuff. Generally, LMA cuff pressure is not routinely monitored in clinical practice. The cuff pressure of LMA should be maintained under 60 cmH 2 O, the critical perfusion pressure of the pharyngeal mucosa [1], to prevent related airway morbidity that ranges from a sore throat to more serious complications such as vocal cord paralysis [2][3][4].LMA manufacturers recommend only the maximal cuff volume (i.e., 40 ml for size 5, 30 ml for size 4) and do not provide the optimal or minimal cuff volumes required to provide a sufficient pharyngeal sealing. Furthermore, clinicians appear to regard the maximal cuff volume as a recommendation only and tend to inflate the cuff to its maximal volume, as

Related factors for ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway failure

“…El volumen del insuflado del manguito fue elegido por el anestesiólogo, sin exceder los vol umenes recomendados por el fabricante o hasta 60 cm de H 2 O medidos con manómetro. 27 Para definir el fracaso de la LMA, se consideraron las definiciones de diferentes autores, las cuales se presentan en la Tabla 2. Se decidió incluir las principales características de las descripciones encontradas: necesidad de intercambio a otro dispositivo, tiempo y disfuncionalidad.…”